Price presentation in an online e-commerce system

Abstract

A method and system for information presentation in an online trading environment are described. According to one aspect of the invention, the sales price of the item, plus any applicable taxes, shipping, and any applicable payment surcharge are included in the total cost displayed for each item. The list of items may optionally be sorted according to the total cost of the item. According to another aspect of the invention, the sales price of the item plus any applicable taxes and payment surcharges are included in the total cost displayed for each item, but the shipping charges are not included, thereby providing an accurate total cost when the item will be received in-person, thereby avoiding shipping charges.

1 . A method for presenting a multi-item listing of items available for sale in an online e-commerce environment, comprising the steps of: 
 establishing at least one item profile;    establishing at least one buyer profile;    establishing a set of pricing rules;    calculating a total cost for each item in said multi-item listing, based on said item profile,    said buyer profile, and said pricing rules; and    displaying said total cost for each of said items,    whereby the said total cost is the amount of funds a buyer must incur to obtain each of said items is displayed.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating a total cost comprises the steps of: 
 calculating applicable taxes;    calculating payment surcharges; and    calculating the sum of the sales price, applicable taxes, and payment surcharges;    wherein said sum is the total cost.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating a total cost comprises the steps of: 
 calculating applicable taxes;    calculating payment surcharges;    calculating shipping charges; and    calculating the sum of the sales price, applicable taxes, shipping charges, and payment surcharges;    wherein said sum is the total cost.    
     
     
         4 . A system for presenting a multi-item listing of items available for sale in an online e-commerce environment, wherein a total cost for each of said items is displayed, comprising a network-based transaction facility, a plurality of client computers connected to said network-based transaction facility via a communications network, wherein said network-based transaction facility contains a computer which performs the function of a price server, said price server executing computer instructions to evaluate pricing rules used to derive accurate assessments of the costs incurred by a buyer when purchasing an item from said online e-commerce system.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising means for indicating items which are subject to a tax, if purchased.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising means for indicating items which are subject to a payment surcharge, if purchased.  
     
     
         7 . A client device displaying a multi-item listing of items available for sale in an online e-commerce environment, the total cost of each of said items, said total cost including sale price, applicable tax, applicable shipping charges, and applicable payment surcharges.  
     
     
         8 . The client device of  claim 7 , further comprising an indicating means for indicating items that are subject to a tax, if purchased.  
     
     
         9 . The client device of  claim 7 , further comprising an indicating means for indicating items that are subject to a payment surcharge, if purchased.